The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing saffron terror cases, has found evidence that blasts in Purna, Parbhani, Jalna and Nanded between 2003 and 2006 are all connected with the perpetrators of Malegaon blasts, although in a peculiar way. All these blasts, in Marathwada region of central Maharashtra, were carried out by protégés of Sunil Joshi, the mastermind of the Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blasts.

The Uttarakhand police on Apr 30 booked BJP MLA Rajkumar Thukral for fanning communal violence in Udham Singh Nagar on Oct 2 last, in which four people were killed and 35 others, including 12 policemen, wounded. In the riots that followed, several shops were set ablaze and curfew was imposed for more than a week. “Civil judge Reena Negi directed the police to book Thukral on the basis of an application filed by one Suhel Ahmed,” said DIG, Nainital, Deepak Jyoti Ghildiyal, adding t...

A special court on May 5 awarded life sentence to nine persons and sent another to prison for six months for killing of three Muslims including two women in Ode village of Anand on March 1, 2002 during the communal riots a decade ago. Nine persons convicted for life term were found guilty of murder and criminal conspiracy to murder the victims, besides rioting and unlawful assembly. The court imposed a fine of Rs 21,500 on each of the nine accused. While the one with six month sentence was ch...

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi could be among those likely to be affected by new immigration rules under which non-European Union citizens accused of serious human rights abuses may be banned from entering Britain. Rights campaigners on Apr 29 said they would demand that the proposed rules be used to keep out Mr. Modi because of his alleged role in the anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat.

The South Asia Solidarity Group said such a law must be applied to Mr. Modi as his role in the Guj...

A total of 30 Muslims – one short of their last year’s tally – have cleared this year’s civil services examinations. Four Muslims Syed Abid Rasheed Shah (rank 23), Nooh P B (rank 43), Md Shariq Badr (rank 48) and Amna Tasneem (rank 73) are in the top 100 positions.

Out of the total 30 Muslim successful candidates seven students are from Jamia Millia Islamia, four from Zakat Foundation of India and one is from Haj Committee of India. All these institutions are p...

Accusing Indian media of promoting superstitions and backward ideas to divert people’s attention from real issues, Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on May 3 alleged that the media houses are often looked upon by their owners as the means of making money. “In India, the recent tendencies show the media playing a reactionary role. Instead of promoting scientific thinking, it promotes superstitions and backward ideas and diverts attention from real issues which are soci...

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned Kerala’s chief secretary over the state’s failure to submit the compliance report of compensating people affected from the aerial spray of hazardous pesticide Endosulfan in Kasargod district. “Despite being granted time, the state has not submitted the compliance report till now. The Commission has said that if the requisite report is received on or before Jun 4, 2012, the chief secretary’s attendance shall stand...

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Apr 30 launched on a pilot basis a 24-hour helpline for women in distress in Gujarat. The round-the-clock toll-free helpline, 1800 233 22222, shall be run by the city-based Women Action Group (AWAG), an NGO working for women welfare and empowerment. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kamla said that during hours of distress, this helpline would play a vital role in guiding women on how to reach the right place for a solution to their grievances. “The...